Editorial 2: Don’t merely enrol students, but equip them with skills

Context                

Seeing education as a promise to society that links learning with jobs and real-life opportunities is very important.

Introduction

As the college admission season begins, many institutions across India are advertising their courses with promises of knowledge, personal growth, and top-quality research. More students are joining at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels, showing a growing and active education system. But a key problem remains — degrees are increasing faster than good job opportunities.

Unemployment Rises with Higher Education

• Data from the Ministry of Statistics shows a surprising trend:
  • The more educated a person is, the higher the chances of being unemployed.
• This reveals a serious gap between education and employability.
• There is an urgent need to align education with real job opportunities.

Struggles in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Colleges

• Most Indian students attend non-elite institutions, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.
• These colleges offer common degrees like:
  • BA (Bachelor of Arts)
  • BCom (Bachelor of Commerce)
  • BSc (Bachelor of Science) and their postgraduate versions.

Challenges Faced by These Institutions:

• Unlike elite colleges that often appear in the news, the employability crisis in regular colleges is mostly ignored.

Theory-Heavy Learning, Skill-Light Outcomes

• Teaching focuses mostly on textbook theory, not real-world skills.
• Examples:
  • An English literature student may study Shakespeare, but not learn how to write a formal email.
  • An Economics graduate may grasp complex theories, but struggle with basic tools like Microsoft Excel.
  • Result: Many educated youth remain jobless, unable to turn their degrees into jobs.

Academic Culture vs Practical Needs

• In many places, theory is valued more than job readiness.
• Higher education is seen as a goal in itself, not a tool to get jobs.
• Many pursue PhDs or master’s degrees just to avoid the job market.
• This creates a cycle: students become teachers in the same system that lacks practical value.

Government Efforts and Remaining Gaps

• The government is aware of the problem.
• Initiatives launched include:
  • Skill India
  • Start-Up India
  • National Education Policy (NEP)
• Current Issues in Implementation:

Global Lessons: Technical Education at the Core

• Countries like China and Japan have made technical and vocational education a key part of their economic strategies.
• In contrast, India still sees vocational training as a backup option.
• This social stigma weakens the impact and popularity of skill-based education.
• Despite being essential for job readiness, vocational courses are undervalued in both academia and society.

The Indian Dilemma: Degrees vs Jobs

• In India, a college degree is still seen as a symbol of social mobility.
  • However, degrees today no longer guarantee good jobs.
  • This doesn’t mean we should discard liberal arts or abstract learning:
    • These fields are still important for creativity and critical thinking.
  • But at the same time, education must also offer real economic value.

Reforms Needed: Making Education Practical

• General degree programmes should include job-relevant skills as core components, not just optional add-ons
• Suggested Core Skill Modules:

• PhD and Doctoral programmes must also change:
  • Prepare students for jobs in policy, analytics, consulting, development, and industry — not just teaching.
  • Those who truly want to do research should pursue it — not as an escape from job competition.

The Government Job Obsession

• One reason for the heavy rush towards government jobs is the lack of private sector alternatives.
• These roles are still valuable, but:
  • More private jobs and startup opportunities must be made available.
  • Focus on enhancing employability will give youth more career choices.
  • This can also reduce pressure on competitive exams.

Conclusion

India must shift from viewing education as mere enrolment to treating it as a social contract that empowers youth with practical skills. Bridging the gap between learning and livelihood, especially in non-elite institutions, is essential. A reformed, skill-integrated curriculum can ensure that education not only inspires minds but also secures futures in a fast-changing economy.